Corporate Sustainability Ratings

We are pleased to present this roundtable exploring key developments and opportunities in corporate sustainability ratings. The roundtable is part of SustainAbility’s Rate the Raters research program.

At SustainAbility we continue to see significant developments across the external ratings, rankings, indices and awards that seek to assess corporate sustainability performance. There are a dizzying number of ratings which companies can respond to, ranging significantly in methodology and purpose. Whilst this evolving landscape demonstrates the increasing importance of sustainability performance for companies and their stakeholders, it presents a challenge for corporate resources as companies seek to effectively respond.

There are a dizzying number of ratings and while this demonstrates the increasing importance of sustainability performance for companies, it presents a challenge for corporate resources as companies seek to effectively respond.

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This roundtable will be the first phase in SustainAbility’s Rate the Raters research program planned for 2017. Through this research, SustainAbility is looking to shed light on the universe of corporate sustainability ratings and to influence and improve their quality and transparency.

The objective of the roundtable is to gather inputs which will shape and inform further SustainAbility research into this key topic.

Trends: What are the key developments and challenges in the ratings agenda? What look to be the emerging focus areas for the coming decade?

Use: How are companies (and their investors) using ratings? How does the information gathered influence decision-making within companies and across key stakeholder groups?

Recommendations: What are the needs for support? Where are the key opportunities for companies to make better use of the process of responding to ratings and the data collected? How can ratings providers improve their approaches and create value for the companies they engage with?

Given the topic of the event, we encourage you to also invite your investor relations colleagues.

Places are limited so please RSVP as soon as possible and by Friday, 5th May latest.

About Rate the Raters

In May of 2010, we launched a multi-phase research program entitled Rate the Raters which aimed to shed light on the universe of corporate sustainability ratings and to influence and improve their quality and transparency. The five phases of the research program explored the universe of corporate sustainability ratings, best practice, how companies and investors use these ratings, as well as visions for the future of ratings.

Since the research program concluded in 2012, the ratings landscape has evolved significantly. We believe now is an opportune time to revisit the questions of how ratings contribute to driving companies and society towards a more just and sustainable world, and how might they do so more effectively.

Learn more about our Rate the Raters researchand download the reports here.

Based in London, Michael’s work focuses on providing research, analysis and strategic advice to hep businesses respond to their sustainability challenges. His areas of interest include the intersection between finance, business and sustainability.